<p>how are the living conditions on the campus? I am a guy who has been down south for the majority of his high school years and his first two college years. I want to know how the apartments are in the area of NYC. Your personal experience will help.</p>
<p>hey Aristororty, I appreciate that you’re offering time and advice for us anxious transfers.
I’m wondering, with your low scores in high school, how did you show the admissions that you were prepared for Columbia’s rigor? As a freshman transfer, I have a 4.0 but that’s only from three classes and a lab from my fall semester, and I feel like that’s not enough to judge whether or not I can handle Columbia’s classes.</p>
<p>@Techerdz - I have only been living in campus housing. I definitely wouldn’t be the one to talk to as far as apartment hunting goes. Housing is guaranteed, and apartments aren’t much cheaper.</p>
<p>@McMath - I did poorly early in my high school career, but brought it back together towards the end. Essentially, I punctuated the fact that I got a bunch of 5’s on my AP tests, and that these were more representative than my relatively low SATs. I also received a lot of support from college professors and deans, and had a relatively good academic presence (in terms of writing conferences, extra-curricular involvement, etc.)</p>
<p>Well, how do you like the housing at Columbia?</p>
<p>I’m a freshman, doing my second semester in a community college, 16 and an international student.</p>
<p>Lived in 4 different countries (China, Singapore, Vietnam, United States)
Was in the Gifted Education Program (top 1% of all students in Singapore)
Accepted into Music Elected Program in middle school
Played major roles in two television series when I was young
Completely fluent in Chinese (writing, reading and speaking)
Published twice in school magazines
Currently on the board of committee for my college’s annual literary journal
Personal rejection letter from Kenyon Review (top 4% of all submissions; Kenyon Review recognised as fourth best national, if not international literary magazine)
Vice-President of Chess Club
Acceptance into Collegiate Leadership Program
ABRSM Practical Piano Grade 8 (highest achievable level besides Diploma and Master’s degrees; if I’m not mistaken, I’ll be able to teach Grade 1 to Grade 5 with my certificate)
ABRSM Theory Grade 5
ABRSM Practical Classical Guitar Grade 5
Singapore Youth Festival Choir Gold with Honours in middle school
Swimming – Gold medal (Highest achievable medal would be Gold Star)
Lifesaving 1</p>
<p>I’m planning on Pre-Law with International Relations or Philosophy as minor.</p>
<p>My GPA right now is only 3.5; I did really bad last semester due to distractions. And my SAT score is a low 1920. Is there anything I might be able to do in order to maximize my chances for acceptance? Also, I couldn’t seem to find an essay component in the transfer application, is it just my lack of technology insight or is there actually no essay component?</p>
<p>Thanks, I really appreciate it!</p>
<p>Hey Aristororty, how much of a factor do you think AP exam grades will be in transfer admissions? I’ve only taken 2 APexams so far, and I am now a senior who has graduated hs in january. Therefore, I am no longer continuing my ap classes at school (i was taking 3 this year), and i find it hard to self-study. Taking tutoring would be too much of a financial burden for me… I am not confident I will get a good enough score that will make the high fee and the time spent studying worth it. I am almost thinking of just not taking the AP exams at all because the scores would not even come out until after the acceptance decisions are released. What would you say to this? If I do end up taking the exams, I will most likely take 2 of the 3 (AP Physics is just too difficult for me to handle, with or without the professor’s help)</p>
<p>@Techerdz - Housing at Columbia is fine, and preferable to off-campus living, in which you will have to deal with utility bills and property maintenance.</p>
<p>@ThrowingMuses - Transfers can’t participate in the 5 year joint degree international relations program. Also, there is most certainly an essay portion to the transfer application. Transfers should focus on the following: essay, professor recommendation, and college GPA. You’re still young, so I would take some time to improve in these areas before applying. Go on Columbia’s site and do some research too.</p>
<p>@lyl926 - I am not sure I understand why you are applying as a transfer when you are not coming from a different university/college. In any case, AP scores don’t effect admissions chances unless you are applying as a transfer and want to use them to punctuate your performance in certain areas.</p>
<p>And my apologies for the brevity of these responses; they were much longer but my internet got finicky and I had to start over. If anyone is in need of more detail, just let me know.</p>
<p>Sorry for the unclarity… I know it might be a bit early to think about transferring since I haven’t even heard my freshman year decisions yet… but I have a feeling I won’t be accepted to a college I’ll be happy in (especially because of financial issues) so I’m just thinking ahead about transfer admissions. I was about to not take the AP exams at all until I read in one of your posts that you used your AP scores to punctuate your strengths for transfer to Columbia.</p>
<p>Ah, ok, that makes more sense. Well, make sure to give whatever school you get into a fair chance. It is never good to enter a new environment with a transfer attitude. Treat your institution as with a sense of permanence; if you find that you still want to transfer, despite giving it your all, then go for it. </p>
<p>If they aren’t too much of a fiscal/time burden, and your SAT scores/high school GPA isn’t quite where you want it, you might want to consider taking the AP tests. It never hurts to have one more tool, and if you don’t do well, you don’t need to use them.</p>
<p>Hey, I have a question about main essay of Columbia’s transfer admission. The prompt seems to be more like a regular decision common app main essay, while the transfer common app is mainly about why transfer. What did you write in the main essay? Was it like describing accidents or experiences that shaped your personality? Or about the reason you decided to transfer?</p>
<p>Doesn’t Columbia’s transfer app have different sections about the reason for transferring? It’s rather short but 600 char about what you like about columbia, and 250 words about why your college doesn’t satisfy you.</p>
<p>Hey Aristororty, did you notice any decrease in financial aid from your previous college? Columbia said their financial aid for transfers was limited, but I’m wondering how much of an impact it would have on my aid</p>
<p>Hey Aristororty, I think it’s wonderful that you’re helping everyone with their many questions. I have a few questions. I got a 1440 on SATs, didn’t do so good in high school. My grades dramatically improved in college. I have a 3.5 gpa, I’m on Dean’s List, honor’s societies, a couple of EC’s. I’m going 2 send in some supplementary materials, do they really look at supplementary materials? Do you honestly think I have a chance? In my essay 4 why my school is not meeting my needs, I’m talking a lot about my previous record, how much I’ve changed, my school doesn’t have my major, Columbia has better opportunities for me, I’ll become familiar w/the faculty with Columbia, they will be my friends and colleagues for the next few years etc. Do I sound like a sad story? Do you think that’s a good idea? It would be greatly appreciated, Thank you</p>
<p>If you got a 1440/2400, then I honestly wouldn’t waste your time applying. Even if English is a second language, this score suggests that you would have gotten a 300-350 on the reading and writing sections respectively (assuming that your math score was unaffected by the language barrier). This might be simply too low.</p>
<p>If you got an 800 on the math portion, are applying to SEAS, and took really hard classes at your current institution, then it might be worth a try. But a 3.5 is good, not great. You will really need something extra (like publications, etc.) to make your case.</p>
<p>Some advice for the community based on many of the PMs I have been receiving:</p>
<p>As the deadline approaches, think about one thing:</p>
<p>DON’T OVER-THINK IT!</p>
<p>I know it is difficult, but you must remember that the little details aren’t going to make or break you. Take a deep breath, relax, and understand that many of the questions on the application are simply there so that the admissions staff can construct a more detailed picture of an individual they’ve never met. The questions aren’t designed to trick or test you. Just be honest, and present yourself as you really are. Speak to them (admissions) as you would a close friend, professor, or mentor. Use natural language; inflated speech is always a turnoff. Trust - they’ll appreciate the concise language, particularly sentences without 15 prepositional phrases.</p>
<p>Oh, also: GOOD LUCK!!!</p>
<p>whew, glad it’s out of my hands:) So aristoroty, about that financial aid question…</p>
<p>hey, sorry I missed that question. I actually receive more money from Columbia than my previous school. Aid is entirely need-based, and is the same for transfers. What you get depends on your parents income/assets. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>does being low-income help? i guess for diversity reasons.</p>
<p>hey I was wondering if jobs count as extracirricular activities.</p>
<p>I’m a senior in high school but I already know I’ll have to spend a TON of time working part time so I can pay back loans and contribute. So much time, in fact, that I really doubt I’ll have time for much else.</p>
<p>My parents’ adjusted gross incomes add up to about 59k, but their gross incomes are about 62k. My parents are divorced and my mom makes about 47k by herself, is that good enough to qualify for a full ride if I got in?</p>
<p>Also, does Columbia allow undergrads to claim financial independence?</p>
<p>As a last note, my HS stats were TERRIBLE. I was alarmingly apathetic, messed around and I now have a big fat 3.0 as my GPA. 2nd term senior grades won’t bring that up too far.</p>
<p>My SATs are pretty good:I might retake in June for a 2400–might be sufficiently close as is. 760+ on my subject tests, might retake in May for 800s.</p>
<p>My school is huge and very competitive; supply for AP courses always underran demand. My school also imposes strict restrictions on the AP tests that a student can take if he or she is not registered in the class. I’m doing some self studying for </p>
<p>AP Macroecon
AP Microecon
AP US Govt
AP Chem
AP US History
and maybe AP BC Calc</p>
<p>that I want to take for the first time in June, but I might not get a chance to. How can I make up for such a lackluster HS record?</p>
<p>Do you recommend any courses of action to take freshmen year of college? You did transfer in for sophomore year, right?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>If I were to work to pay off the bills during my first semester, would columbia university see this as a plus?</p>